Auburn gameday: traffic and parking tips for Saturday's homecoming game

Parking on Auburn University's campus on gameday is limited. The university offers color-coded maps to help visitors navigate on gameday. (Auburn University's gameday website)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Can you believe the homecoming game is already upon us?

With the Auburn Tigers set to take on the Western Carolina at 1 p.m. on Saturday, those attending the game should be sure to have a plan for battling the traffic an early game often creates.

For that very reason, Auburn University has a Game Day website dedicated to helping you navigating your way through the college campus and to your destination without suffering from any collisions or tickets by kickoff.

Getting to campus

Though the game starts in the evening, it's a good idea to get into Auburn early since there will be heavy traffic and delays.

Both U.S. 280 and I-85 are the usual roads into the city of Auburn. From U.S. 280, head south on Alabama Highway 147 to travel through downtown, which will undoubtedly be congested.

A number of exits on I-85 will be clearly marked for game day and will direct you to campus. Exit 51, Auburn's main exit, will be backed up; but if you decide to take it, turning left onto South College Street will get you to your destination.

Exiting onto Wire Road will take you through a rural area until you arrive at the southwestern part of campus.

For more specific instructions based on the area you're driving from, visit the Auburn University Game Day directions page.

Parking

There are several guidelines to follow when it comes to parking. All streets should remain open to traffic and emergency vehicles unless closed by law enforcement. In addition, no parking is allowed on bike paths and sidewalks. Vehicles are also not allowed inside areas enclosed by bollards, posts, chains or fences.

The Mell Street corridor, bound by the intersections of Thach and College, Mell and Samford, and Miller and College will be closed to all vehicular traffic approximately two to four hours prior to kickoff.

Gameday guests will only be allowed to access parking in the Mell Street corridor from College Street via Roosevelt Drive. Guests parking south of Roosevelt Drive will be required to park facing south and guests parking north of Roosevelt Drive will be required to park facing north.

Disabled parking will also be open and are clearly marked on the Game Day map.

There will be free parking available after 4 p.m. on Friday at West Samford Avenue near the intersection of Duncan Drive and at the Facilities Division off of West Samford Avenue. From there, fans can "quick park" their vehicles and use the shuttle service to travel to and from the stadium.

In addition, a new free tailgating area will be opened up behind the Forestry & Wildlife building at the corner of South Donahue and Lem Morrison Drive.

For more information, visit the parking section of the Auburn University Game Day website.

Getting home

After the game, get ready for a bit of a wait. To make the process as smooth as possible, take a look at the post-game traffic map to see what streets will be rerouted.

Some changes for this season:

Samford Avenue will be one-way east bound from Duncan Drive to Dean RoadSamford Avenue will be one-way west bound from Duncan Drive to Shug JordanParkway (one inbound lane will be open to transit and emergency vehicles only)Duncan Drive will be one-way south boundMell Street will be one-way north bound from Roosevelt Drive to Thach AvenueMell Street will be one-way south bound from Roosevelt Drive to Samford AvenueRoosevelt Drive will be one-way east bound from Mell Street to College Street.Heisman Drive will be one-way west bound from Donahue Drive to Wire Road.Wire Road will be one-way south bound from Heisman Drive to Samford Avenue.West Thach Avenue will be one-way west bound from Wire Road to Hemlock Drive.Hemlock Drive will be one-way south bound from Heisman Drive to Samford Avenue.